The electronics component technology for the Hyperloop transportation project will now be developed at Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Chennai.
- The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Chennai has successfully developed large electronic systems for the Vande Bharat high-speed trains also.
About Hyperloop Technology
- Hyperloop is touted as the fifth mode of transportation after road, rail, air and water transport.
It is an ultra-fast ground transportation system for passenger and cargo, consisting of a network of tubes with pods traveling at ultra-high speeds (more than 1000 kmph) in a vacuum.- Introduced By: The concept was proposed by the entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2013, through a whitepaper: ‘Hyperloop Alpha’
- The Hyperloop Pod Competition: It is an annual competition sponsored by Space X to design and built a hyperloop prototype.
- Need: The Hyperloop Technology aims to practically eliminate the aerodynamic drag on an earth-bound vehicle by moving this vehicle under reduced air pressure (in a quasi-vacuum at around 100 Pa pressure) almost friction-free in a tube
- Components:
- Low-Pressure Tubes: The pods travel in a sealed, low-pressure tube (often a tunnel) ensuring an energy-efficient operation because it creates low aerodynamic resistance.
- Pod (or Capsule): The passenger-carrying vehicle that travels within the tube.
- A capsule consists of an air compressor on front, passenger compartment in middle and battery compartment at back.
- Magnetic Levitation (Maglev): A system of magnets that levitates the pod above the track, reducing friction and allowing for smooth, high-speed travel.
- The technology uses two sets of magnets, one set to repel and push the train up off the track, and another set to move the elevated train ahead, taking advantage of the lack of friction.
- Electric Propulsion: A system of electric motors that propel the pod through the tube, often using linear induction motors.
- Compressor: It allows the capsule to traverse through low pressure tube without choking the air flow that travels between tube walls and capsule
- Communication System: Hyperloop communication system is designed to provide high-speed, low-latency, and secure communication between hyperloop pods, stations, and other network endpoints
Advantages of Hyperloop Technology
- Speed: The technology propels pods at speeds of over 1000 km/h ie. 3x faster than high-speed rail and twice that of aircraft.
- Lower Carbon Emissions: It offers low-energy long-distance travel, running on electricity and solar energy. The tubes could also store electricity with the help of batteries.
- Compliments Other Mode of Transport: The Hyperloop shape provides the capacity to integrate other transport like flying taxis, autonomous vehicles, moving sidewalks, walkways, and e-scooter and cycle paths.
- Seamless: It combines the speed of an airplane, the energy efficiency of a train and the flexibility of a taxi.
- Direct City Connection: Hyperloop reduces door-to-door travel times by directly connecting mobility hubs and is suitable for long distance travel.
India’s Hyperloop Project
- The Indian Railways Ministry has cleared a proposal for the construction of a 40-kilometre Hyperloop track, making it the world’s first major hyperloop project upon implementation.
- Developers: India is developing a Hyperloop tube in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and TuTr Hyperloop, a deep-tech startup incubated at IIT-M.
- Funding: The Ministry of Railways approved a funding of ₹8.34 crore to IIT-M to indigenously develop and validate the hyperloop system and its subsystems.
- Length: Indian Hyperloop tube will measure 410 meters in length making it Asia’s longest tube.
- Location: The 410-meter-long Hyperloop test tube is located at IIT Madras Discovery Campus
- Indigenous Technology: The entire testing system for Hyperloop transportation has been developed using indigenous technologies
- The electronics technology for this project will be developed at ICF
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